Advice for the New Contractor – Become the Expert in Your Field

RCS Influencer Mike Pickel says that continuous learning is the key to your success.

Be the expert in your field. Don't just "do it the way the crew has always done it." Become a student of your industry!

Learn how your manufacturers recommend installing their products. Each manufacturer may have different recommendations. Always install according to the manufacturer you are installing on that job.

Learn what your industry's premier association installation standards are. For the roofing industry it is the National Roofing Contractors' Association (NRCA). The wealth of knowledge the NRCA provides can prevent you from making mistakes that cost serious time and money. The NRCA has put together manuals for the different roofing disciplines. Each volume looks like a college text book. Don't look at the books and say I don't have time to spend reading them. When I took the time to read the manufacturer's manuals and NRCA text books my time at work became more valuable and productive.

How much time do you waste going back to fix something that wasn't installed correctly? How do you know your crew is installing the materials correctly? Eliminate the unknown in your work by being the expert in your industry.

People want to know the contractor they are hiring knows what they are doing. Prove it by educating the client on what you are going to be doing for them. Most clients love it! I can't tell you how many times I've had clients say, "none of the other roofers told me that,” and then I get the contract. That is when taking the time to be a student pays off.

Be the expert in your field, always be the student!  Embrace it. If you are not going to be the expert in your company, who is?

Mike Pickel is co-founder of Texas Traditions Roofing. See his full bio here.